- Title: Experts undertake thorough investigation of Mexico's mighty Popo volcano
- Date: 11th November 2016
- Summary: VARIOUS OF POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO'S CRATER
- Embargoed: 26th November 2016 23:56
- Keywords: volcano Popocatepetl Mexico
- Location: MEXICO CITY, POPOCATEPETL, PUEBLA, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, POPOCATEPETL, PUEBLA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA0025803Z2B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDIT CONTAINS VIDEO THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Experts in Mexico have begun updating its mapping of the majestic Popocatepetl volcano to improve predictions of explosions from one of the country's most active volcanoes.
In recent years, a series of explosions at the volcano affectionately known as El Popo has raised concerned that a big eruption is to come.
But the 5,450-metre (17,900-foot) volcano has been hard to get up close to and study due to its sheer size and ice temperatures near the crater.
Now Mexico's disaster relief body CENAPRED is undertaking the massive task.
"We have many years of not having updated the specific characteristics of a map of risks and this has been done through scientific analysis by geologists and those who are knowledgeable. Where are the areas (of risk?). It depends on the volcano's slopes, it could depend on the materials expelled from the Popo volcano," said Luis Felipe Puente, Mexico's Civil Protection Coordinator.
Popocatepetl has been active since the mid-1990s but some significant eruptions this year have rocked communities living under the volcano's shadow, with ash blanketing nearby towns and authorities on stand-by for possible evacuation.
Puente said the fierceness of future eruptions depends on Popo's slopes, which will be mapped out in the new investigation.
"Because volcanic activity will behave differently on the volcano's slopes depending on the quantity of material which is expelled. Obviously this changes the configuration," he added.
There are more than 3,000 volcanos in Mexico, but only 14 are considered active.
Popo regularly emits smoke and ash but is rarely considered life threatening to nearby communities. But a massive eruption from the volcano in 2000 forced the evacuation of some 50,000 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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